PLOCEIM. 
16. P. rufovelatus (Fras.) Proc. Z. S. 1842. 142. 
17- P. flammiceps (Swains.) B. of W. Afr. p. 13. 
18. P. rvficeps Swains B. of W. Afr. p. 262. 
19. P. erythroeepha l us (Gmel.) Cuv., Brown’s 111. t. 28. f. 2., 
Vieill. Ois. Chant, t. 28. 
20. P. madagaseariemu (Linn.) Vieill. Ois. Chant, t. 63. 
21. P. ruber (Gmel.) PI. enl. 134. f. 2. 
22. P. sanguinirostris (Linn.) Edwards’s Birds, t. 271. f. 2. — 
| Emberiza quelea Linn. PI. enl. 183. f. 2. 223. f. 1., Vieill. Ois. 
Chant. 22, 23, 24. 
23. P. aureus (Gmel.) Brown’s 111. t. 25. f. 1. — Euplectes 
aurinotus Susains. 
24. P. lepidopterus Licht. Verz. Afric. Thier. p. 15. 
25. P. erythrops Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1848. p. 109. 
26. P. Petiti O. Des Murs, Rev. Zool. 1 846. p. 242. 
27. P. nigroventris Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philad. 1848. p. 66. 
PHiLETiEiius A. Smith * 
Bill more compressed than in Ploceus, with the culmen slightly arched from the base, and the lateral 
margins sinuated. Wings moderate, reaching to about the middle of the tail ; with the first quill very 
shoit, almost rudimentary; the second, third, and fourth nearly of equal length and longest. Tail 
somewhat rounded at the end. Tarsi strong, shielded with transverse scales. Toes moderate, the 
outer and inner toes nearly of equal length ; claws much curved and acute. 
Peculiar to South Africa, where they are generally found near rivers ; their food consists of seeds and small 
insects. 
The most striking peculiarity observed in the species,” says Dr. Smith, “ is the extraordinary manner in which a 
number of individuals associate, and build their nests under a common roof. When a nestling-place has been selected, 
and the operation of building the nests is to be commenced ab initio , the community immediately proceed conjointly to 
construct the general covering which interests them all. That being accomplished, each pair begin to form their own 
nest, which, like the roof, they construct of coarse grass : these are placed side by side against the under surface of the 
general covering ; and, by the time they are all completed, the lower surface of the mass exhibits an appearance of an 
even horizontal surface, freely perforated by small circular openings. 
“ They never use the same nests a second time, though they continue for many years attached to the same roof. 
With the return of the breeding-season, fresh nests are formed upon the lower surface of those of the previous year, 
which then forms an addition to the general covering. In this manner they proceed, year after year adding to the mass, 
till at last the weight often becomes such as to cause the destruction of its support, upon which a new building-place 
is selected. Each female lays from three to four eggs. The male has no summer tints which he throws aside in 
winter.” 
Ph. socius (Lath.) G. R. Gray, Paters. Voy. pi. 19. — Philetserus lepidus A. Smith, 111. S. Afr. Zool. pi. viii. ; Ploceus Patersoni Less. 
Nigrita Shield. -f 
Bill shorter than the head, dilated at the base, laterally compressed to the tip, which is slightly emar- 
gmated ; the lateral margins indexed and slightly arched ; the culmen rather keeled, gradually arched 
from the base to the tip, and the gonys lengthened and ascending ; the nostrils basal, ovate, and partly 
concealed by the frontal plumes. Wings moderate, rounded, with the first quill spurious, and the third 
to the fifth nearly equal. T ail rather short, and rounded. Tarsi short and strongly scaled, equalling 
* 6 enus was foumled in 1837. See Loud. Mag. 0 / Nat. Hist. P . 536. 
used, Mr! Smcklamf change^Ht to°the ^bove!'° C " ^ 1841 ’ P ' 3 °‘ ) U ' lder name ° f Mthio P s ^ but > “ tllat ™ d bad ^en previously 
